Comparative analysis of fluorinated anions for polypyrrole linear actuator electrolytes

Abstract

Either as salts or room temperature ionic liquids, fluorinated anion-based electrolytes have been a common choice for ionic electroactive polymer actuators, both linear and bending. In the present work, propylene carbonate solutions of four electrolytes of the three hugely popular anions-triflouromethanesulfonate, bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide, and hexafluorophosphatewere compared and evaluated in polypyrrole linear actuators. The actuation direction, the characteristics-performance relations influence the behavior of the actuators. Isotonic Electro-chemo-mechanical deformation (ECMD)measurementswere performed to study the response of the PPy/DBS samples. The highest strain for pristine PPy/DBS linear actuatorswas found in range of 21%for LiTFSI,while TBAPF6 had the least cation involvement, suggesting the potential for application in durable and controllable actuators. Interesting cation effects on the actuation of the same anions (CF3SO3 -)were also observed.